How to Write Your Own Obituary Romans 13:8-14

Our daily choices shape the most important story we will ever write.

At a Glance

You might think that writing your own obituary is borderline bizarre. Maybe. But the exercise can be a spiritually clarifying event. Today's epistle reading reminds us of the important things to include in an obituary. Above all, is love.

Editors' Pick

For material based on today's OT text, see "Calendar Confusion," September 7, 2008, at HomileticsOnline.com.

Tom Vartabedian worked as a local newspaper reporter for 50 years. Over the course of his career, he wrote thousands of obituaries. In May of last year, he wrote one about himself.

Yes, he wrote his own obit.

You might think that this assignment would be a downer, since "obituary" comes from the Latin word meaning "report of death." But you'd be wrong. After finishing a draft, Vartabedian felt a sense of relief. He said to The Wall Street Journal (July 20, 2016), "I had written probably the most important story of my life."

Obituaries mean a lot. Deeper than death notices, they reveal the core of a person's life.